Sewing-machine.



1.1a, TOPH'AM.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16.1917. I

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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L. E. TOFHAM.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, Ian.

1 ,zggflmg Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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1,289,312; Patented Dec. 3l,1918.

, 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L. E. TOPHAM.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. 1917.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

5 $HEETSSHEET 4.

L. E. TOPHAM.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. :6. 1917.

1,289,31 2 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNHTEE STATS A FTQQ LAURENCE E. TOPHAM, 0F SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed April 16, 1917. Serial No. 162,435.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, LAURENCE E. TorHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampsco-tt, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates primarily to shoe sewing machines such as are used in th manufacture of boots and shoes.

In machines of this type as usually constructed the work is fed during each cycle of the machine by lateral movement of either the needle or the awl in the direction of the feed, and is held in fixed position' during the return or back feed of the feeding instrument by one or more of the devices which engage the work and cooperate with the feeding instrument in the stitch forming and work feeding cycle. This intermittent feed involves starting and stopping the work during each cycle of the machine, and in operating upon lasted shoes, the inertia of the comparatively heavy work limits the speed of operation. and also subjects the feeding instrument to an objectionable strain, tending to cause inaccuracies or variations in the feed, and imperfect or defective cooperation between the awl and the needle. The rapidly recurring intermittent feed also renders it diflicult for the operator which actively engage the work continuing.

the feed While one or more inactive devices move in the reverse direction, preparatory to actively engaging the work and continuing the feed during the return or non-feeding movement of the former device or devices. This eliminates the strain and inaccuracies incident to starting and stopping the work during each cycle of operations, enables the speed of operation to be increased, and in the case of a machine in which the work is held and guided by the operator, enables the work to be easily and accurately guided, and with less strain upon the operator. The specific manner in which the devices for operating on the work are mounted and relatively actuated to thus continuously feed the work is not material, to the broader scope of the invention, and will necessarily vary with the character of these devices and their, mode of operation.

In embodying the invention in an outsole stitching machine in which the devices for engaging and operating on the work comprise a needle, an awl, a work supporting table, and a presser foot, these devices, with or without the other parts of the machine. are moved in the direction of the feed while actively engaging the work, and are alternately back fed in the reverse direction while inactive, and while the forward feed of the work is being continued by one or more of the elements which during this period of the cycle actively engages the work. The back feed of the elements not in active engagement with the work may take place simultaneously or successively, and if successively. the order of their back feed may be'varied to best suit the specific mode of operation of the cooperating elements. The timing of the back feed of the elements may also be varied as found best suited to the character of the work to be done. It is preferred, however, to so mount the needle, awl, work table and presser foot that they may be moved forward and back I the reciprocation of a minimum number of comparatively light elements. It is also preferred to back feed the awl, presser foot and work table while the needle is in the work, and to effect the back feed of the presser footand work table successively. This enables the presser foot to be back fed while the needle is advancing through the work and is forcing it against the table, and the table to be back fed while the needle is withdrawing from the work and is pressing it against the presser foot, thus avoiding lateral strain on the needle during the back feed of the table and presser foot.

The features of the invention outlined above, as Well as the further features hereinafter described and referred to in the claims, will be understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the mechanism illustrated therein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan 'view of an outsole stitching machine embodying a preferred form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a right-hand side elevation; Fig. 3 is a lefthand side elevation; Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the presser foot and work table; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line- 5, Fig. 9; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail online 6, Fig. 9; Fig. 7 is a detail front elevation showing the edge gage and fudge stitch attachments; Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the fudge stitch knife; Fig. 9 is a detail front elevation showing the needle, awl, presser foot and work table, the edge gage and fudge stitch knife being omitted; Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view on line 10, Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 [S a sectional detail on line 11, Fig. 10.

In the drawings the invention is shown embodied in a wax thread lock stitch sewing machine for sewing the outsoles to boots and shoes which is similar in general construction to the machine shown and described in Patent No. 473,870, April 26, 1892. The machine is provided with an awl 2, a hook needle 4, a looper 6, a shuttle 8, a thread lifter 10, a takeup 12, an auxiliary takeup 14, a thread clamp 16, a work table 18, and a presser foot 20, all of which are,

similar in construction to the corresponding parts in the machine of the patent, and all of which, with the exception of the awl, needle, presser foot and work table, are similarly mounted and operated.

I In. the machine of the patent-the work is intermittently fed by the awl, which is mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and is advanced while in the work to feed the work forward with relation to the needle, work table and presser foot. T'hefeed therefore must be effected during a comparatively small part of each cycle, necessitating a sudden starting and stopping of the work, which limits the speed of operation, tends to put an objectionable strain on the awl, and interferes with the proper guiding of the shoe by the operator. These objections are eliminated in the machine shown by so mounting and operating the needle, awl, work table and presser foot that the advance or feed of the work is continuous during the sewing. In securing a continuous feed of the work the needle and awl, which alternately pierce the work, are each moved in the direction of the feed while in the work, and are independently moved in the opposite direction or back fed while withdrawn from the work. This manner of mounting and operating the needle and awl in itself constitutes a feature of the invention which is not limited in its application to a continuous feed machine, but may be embodied with advantage in intermittent feed machines to increase the length of the period in each cycle during which the feed is effected, with a corresponding increase in the ease and speed of operation. In securing a continuous feed, the work table and presser foot are also mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and are actuated to advance the work during that period in the cycle when both the awl and needle are out of the work, and the stitch last drawn by the needle is being completed and finally set by the takeup. This is another subsidiary feature of the invention which is not limited in its application to continuous feed machines. With the needle, awl, work table and presser foot mounted and actuated as described, one or more of these parts is in active engagement. with the work and is moving in the direction of the feed to feed the work at all times during each cycle, and the back feed of each part may take place while one or more of the other parts is actively engaging and feeding the work. so 95 that a continuous feeding movement is imparted to the work during the sewing.

In the construction shown, the awl carry ing segment 22 is mounted to. oscillate on a stud 24 secured in the upper end of a post 26 which rises from the slide 28. The slide is mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and is connected by a lever 30 with the forward arm of'a cam lever 32, the rear arm of which carries a roll 34 engaged by a cam on the cam shaft 36 of the machine. The lever 30 forms a link connecting the slide 28 with a pivot block 38 mounted for adjustment in a curved slot in the forward arm of the cam lever 32. The lever 30 may be moved to vary the position of the pivot block, and thus vary the movement given to the slide 28, in accordance with the length of stitch to be sewed. The positions of the lever 30 may be determined by pins 40 secured in 115 holes formed in a plate 42 which is secured to the slide 28. This mechanism for operating and varying the movement of the slide 28 is the same as the mechanism for operating and varying the movement of the feed 120 slide in the machine of the patent above referred to. The awl carrying segment is oscillated at the proper times by a gear segment 44 formed on the forward end of a cam lever, and engaging gear teeth formed 125 on the awl segment. as in the machine of the patent.

The needle segment 46 is mounted to os il- 1 late on a. stud 48 which is arranged in line with the awl segment stud 24 and is mount- 1 0 meagre ed to reciprocate in the line of feed in a bearing formed in a fixed bracket arm 50. The needle segment is confined between the collars 52 on the stud, so that it will move with the stud in the line of feed while being free to oscillate thereon. The stud is reciprocated by' a lever 54:, the forward end of which fits within a transverse slot formed in the stud, and the rear end of which is slotted to embrace a pin 56 which is adjustably secured in the slotted arm of a cam lever 58. The rear end of the cam levercarries a roll engaged by a cam on the cam shaft of the machine. By adjusting the pin 56 in the cam lever, the movement transmitted to the needle carrying stud may be varied in accordance with the length of stitch to be sewed. The needle is oscillated by a gear segment 60 formed on they in the line of feed, so that the work sup-v port and presser foot may be successii'ely back fed. As shown, the presser foot lever is formed in two sections so connected that the front section 61 to which he presser foot is secured may move in the line of feed with relation to the rear section 62. The rear section is provided at its forward end with a bifurcated hub 64 which embraces a supporting bracket arm 66 and is journaled on a sleeve 68 secured in the bracket arm (Figs. 6 and 11). The hub is provided with a vertical bearing face 70 which is engaged by a vertical plate 72 formed on the rear part of the front section 61. Two arms 71 and 76 extend rearwardly from the ends of the plate 72, and are connected by a rod 78 which passes through the sleeve 68 and serves in connection with the plate 72 to support and guide the front section, and to connect it with the rear section, so that the two sections will rock together about, the sleeve 68. A presser lever 80, which is connected with the presser foot lever through a link 82 and pressure spring 84, is mounted on a bearing 86 formed on the end of the hub 64.

The front section of the presser foot lever and the presser foot carried thereby are re iprocated in the'line of feed through a link 88, one end of which is connected by a ball and socket joint 90 to the front section, and the other end of which is connected by a ball and so"ket joint 92 with a stud 94: adjustably secured in a slotted arm 96. The arm 96 is se ured to the forward end of a rock shaft 98, to the rear end of which is se ured an arm 100 carrying a roll engaging the same cam which operates the slide 28 carrying the awl and work supporting table. By adjusting the stud 9 1 on the arm 96, the movement of the presser foot in the line of feed may be varied in accordance with the length of stitch to be sewed.

The presser foot is pressed against the work and released at the proper times by a pawl 102 mounted on a pawl carrying lever 104 and arranged to engage a ratchet segment 106 on the rear end of the presser lever 80. The pawl carrying lever is operated by a cam on the cam shaft engaging a roll 108 on the lever. The presser foot is locked in position by a pawl 110 arranged to engage a ratchet segment 112 on the rear end of the section 62 of the presser foot lever.- ingly toward the ratchet 112 by a leaf spring 111 secured to the pawl carrying lever 101. This construction is similar to the construction for locking and unlocking the presser foot and for forcing it against the work in the machine of the patent above referred to. The presser foot may be lifted manually by a handle 116 secured to the rear section 62 of the presser foot lever. The pawls 102 and 110 may be disengaged from their ratchet segments when the presser foot is to be manually lifted through an unlocking lever 118 which is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 68, and is connected at its lower end to a link 120, the lowerarm of which is slotted t embrace a pin 122 on the pawl 110, and the upper arm of which is arranged to engage a pin 124 on the pawl 102. The unlocking lever may be held normally inv rearward position by a spring (not shown), and its movement in either direction may be limited by a stop lug 126 projecting from the flange 128 on the end of the sleeve 68 and lying within a recess in the lever (Figs. 10 and 11).

In case the machine is provided with an edge gage for guiding the shoe during the operation about the forepart, as is customary in outsole stitchers. this gage is preferablv mounted on the slide 28 to move in the line of feed. As shown, the edge gage indicated at 130 is carried on the up'per end of a rock shaft 132 mounted in the post 26. The lower end of the rock shaft is provided with worm teeth 134 engaged by a worm 136 formed on the forward end of a shaft 138 which is mounted in the slide 28. The shaft 138 may be conveniently rocked to swing the, edge gage 130 into and out of position to engage and guide the edge of the shoe sole by devices connecting the shaft with the lever 30, which is shifted to lengthen or shorten the stitch, since it is customarv to change the length of the stitch in passing from the shank to the forepart and from the forepart to the shank, a longer stitch being used in the shank than about the fore- The locking pawl is forced yieldpart. As shown, the rear end of the rock shaft 138 is provided with a disk 140 provided with two shoulders 142 and 144 arranged to be engaged by a finger 146 projecting downward from a plate 148 which is secured to the under side of the lever 30. The shoulder 144 is formed on a plate 150 which is adjustably secured to the disk 140, so that the distance between the shoulders 142 and 144 may be varied. When the lever 130 is in position for operating through the shank, the finger 146 will engage the shoulder 144 and hold the shaft 138 in such posi tion that the edge guide will be out of active position. When the lever 30 is moved to shorter the stitch in passing from the shank to the forepart, the finger 146 will strike the shoulder 142 and will rock the shaft 138 to swing the edge gage into active position, Where it will remain until the lever 30 is again shifted in passing from the forepart into the shank, when the finger 146 will again engage the shoulder 144 and will rock the shaft 138 to move the edge gage into inactive position.

The machine shown is also provided with a fudge stitch knife indicated at 152, which is preferably mounted to move with the work supporting table in the line of feed. As shown, this knife is carried on a block 154 mounted on the post 26 and moved vertically to render the knife active or inactive by a rocking movement of the shaft 132. The block 154 is mounted in a recess in the edge of the post 26, and is provided with a threaded bore which is; engaged by screw threads on the shaft 132. When the shaft 132-is rocked to move the edge gage into active position, the block 154 is raised to proj ect the knife 152 up through the work supporting table, so that it will groove the welt. When the shaft 132 is rocked in the opposite direction the knife will be withdrawn into inactive position. The knife as shown is mounted on an eccentric sleeve 156 which is secured on a stud 158 projecting from the block 154. By turning the sleeve the knife may be adjusted to vary the depth of groove cut thereby, or to throw it out of active position.

The parts are preferably timed to operate as follows during the sewing. Assuming that the awl is about to enter the work, the presser foot is locked in position against the work, and the awl, work table and'presser foot are being moved in the direction of the feed, so that the table and presser foot are acting to feed the work while the stitch last drawn by the needle is being completed and set by the takeup. After the stitch has been set the awl is advanced through the work, and as it completes its upward stroke it comes into line withthe needle. The awl is then withdrawn from the work, and is followed by the needle, which, before it reaches the work, begins to move in the di-' rection of the feed. As the needle enters the work the presser foot is unlocked and is back fed while the needle is advancing through the work and is forcing the work against the work table. The presser foot is therefore back fed while it is resting lightly on the work, and while the work is pressed against the work table, so that the frictional engagement between the table and work supplements the feeding action of the needle. The back feed of the presser foot is therefore effected without danger of springing or bending the needle. The back feed of the presser foot is completed, and its forward feed started, while the needle is still advancing through the work. As the presser foot completes its back feed and starts forward, it is locked against upward movement, but is not pressed forcibly against the work. The locking of the presser foot takes place before the needle starts to withdraw from the Work. The back feed of the awl and work supporting table takes place while the needle is withdrawing from the work and is drawing the work up against the presser foot, thus increasing the friction between the presser foot and work, and relieving the friction between the work and table. At this time the presser foot is moving forward in the direction of feed with the needle. and will supplement the feeding ac tion of the needle. The back feed of the table, as well as the back feed of the presser foot, will therefore be effected without danger of springing or bending the needle. After the back feed of the awl and table has been completed, and they have started forward in the direction of the feed. the presser foot is forced toward the work table to firmly clamp the work and continue its feed during the back feed of the needle, and during the completing and setting of the stitch. The back feed of the needle begins immediately after the needle has cleared the work, and after the needle has been back fed it remains in position until the awl comes With the construction described, the work is fed smoothly and continuously during the sewing, with a minimum straln upon the work engaging and feeding devices so that uniform lengths of stitches may be sewed at an increased speed. The uniform and continuous movement of the work also enables the operator to more easily and accurately aasasaa hold and guide the work, and relieves his arms of the constant vibration incident to the usual intermittent feed of the work.

\Vhile the invention has been shown and described as embodied in a lock stitch sole stitching machine, it will be understood that it is not confined in its application to lock stitch or sole stitching sewing machines, but

' termittently act upon the work, and are operated to impart a continuous feed thereto, perform some operation other than a sewing operation upon the work.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of machine in which it may be embodied, what is claimed is 1: A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism for sewing a seam of concatenated stitches including devices intermittently acting on the work and mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and mechanism for actuating and reciprocatingthe devices to continuously feed the work during the sew- 1n A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism for sewing a seam of concatenated stitches including devices intermittently and alternately acting on the work, and mechanism for moving the devices in the direction of feed while in active engagement with the work and for alternately moving them in the opposite direction while out ofactive engagement therewith.

3. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a hook needle mounted for lateral movement in the line of feed, a looper, mechanism for reciprocating the needle in the line of feed, and work positioning means cooperating with the needle in continuously feeding the work during the sewing.

4. A sewing machine. having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism including a curved hook needle mounted for lateral movement in the line of feed, a looper, and work positioning means cooperating with the laterally movable needle in continuously feeding the work during the sewing.

5. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism including a needle and awl,'one of which also acts as a feeding instrument, a work support and presser foot mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and actuat- It will also being mechanism for advancing the work support and presser foot to feed the work when the feeding instrument is out of the work.

6. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism including a needle and awl, one at least of which also acts as a feeding instrument, a work support and presser foot mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and actuating mechanism for advancing the presser foot and Work support in the line of feed during the feeding movement of the feeding instrument and also when it is out of the work.

7. A sewing machine, having, in combina tion, a needle, an awl, a work support and presser foot mounted to move with one of said instruments in the line of feed, and actuating mechanism for advancing the presser foot and work support with said instrument and when both the awl and needle are out of the work.

8. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism including a needle and awl, one at least of which instruments is mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, a work support and presser foot mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and actuating mechanism for advancing the work support and presser foot when said reciprocatin instrument is in and also when it is out of the work, and for returning the work support and presser foot when the other instrument is in the work.

9. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, an awl, a work support and presser foot mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, actuating mechanism for advancing the work support and presser foot together and for returning the presser foot while theneedle is advancing through the work, and for returning the work support while the needle is withdrawing from the work.

10. A sewing machine, having, in'combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism including a needle and an awl, one at least of which instruments is mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, awork support and presser foot mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, actuating mechanism for advancing the work support and presser foot to cooperate with said reciprocating instrument in feeding the work and for separately returning each of them while the work is forced against the other by the other work piercing instrument.

11. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism including a work feeding instrument, a work support and a presser foot mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and actuating mechanism for advancing the work support and presser foot while the instrument is out of the work and for separately returning each of them while the instrument is in the work and forcing it against the other.

12. A sewing machine, having, in combination, work piercing instruments comprising a needle and an awl, a work support and a presser foot all mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, actuating mechanism for reciprocating said parts timed to back feed the presser foot While the work is pressed against the work support by one of the work piercing instruments, and to back feed the work support while the work is pressed against the presser foot by said instrument.

13. A sewing machine, having, in combi nation a needle mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, an awl independently mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, a work support mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, a presser foot independently mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed,

and mechanism for actuating and reeiprocating said parts to continuously feed the work during the sewing.

14:. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a needle mounted for movement in the line of feed, a work engaging device also mounted for movement in the line of feed, and mecha--' nism for actuating and for reciprocating the needle and work engaging device in the line of feed timed toalternately back feed them while out of active engagement with the work.

15. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism including a needle and an awl arranged to alternately pierce the work and mounted for independent movement in the line of feed, and mechanism for actuating and reciprocating the awl and needle in the line of feed timed to alternately back feed them.

16. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle and an awl, each mounted to move in the direction offeed while in the work, and me'hanism for actuating them to alternately pierce the work.

17. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, an awl, a work support and a presser foot all mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and mechanism for actuating and reciprocating said parts.

18. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, an awl, and mechanism for moving each of them in the direction of the feed while inengagement with the work and independently in the opposite direction when withdrawn therefrom.

19. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanism for moving it in the direction'of the feed while in the work and for returning it when out of the work, work engaging means, and mechanism for reciprocating it in the line of feed to continue the feed duringthe return of the needle and to return during the feeding movement of the needle. I i

20. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, intermittently acting means operating on the work, intermittently acting devices engaging the work substantially along the path of operation of the operating means during the inactive periods of the operating means, and mechanism for moving the operating means and said devices in the direction of the feed while in active engagement with the work, and in the opposite direction while inactive to continuously feed the work'during the transfer of the point of operation of the operating means along the work.

21. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, operating means mounted to reciprocate along the line of feed, work positioning devices mounted to reciprocate along the line of feed, and mechanism for reciprocating and actuating the operating means and positioning devices tocontinuously feed the work during the'transfer of the point of operation of the operating means along the work.

22. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, means for operating on the work comprising a plurality of devices mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed, and mechanism for actuating and reciprocating the devices to impart a substantially unvarying continuous movement to the work during the operation of the operating means thereon.

23. A sewing machine, having. in combination, a needle. an awl, a work support and presser foot all mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed. an edge guide movableinto and out of active'position mounted to reciprocate with the work support, and mechanism for actuating and reciprocating said parts.

24. A sewing machine, having, in com-- bination, a needle, an awl, a work support, and a presser foot. all mounted to reciprocate in the line of feed. a knife movable into and out of active position and mounted to reciprocate with the work support, and mechanism for actuating and reciprocating said parts.

25. A sewing machine, having, in combination. a needle, an awl, a work support, a presser foot, a feed slide carrying the work support and awl, an edge gage mounted on the slide, means for varying the travel of the slide, and connected means for moving the edge guide into and out of active position.

26. A sewing machine, havin in combination, a needle, an awl, a won support, a presser foot, a feed slide carrying the work support and awl, a knife movable into and out of active position and mounted on the slide, and mechanism for actuating the parts and for reciprocating the slide.

27. A sewing machine, having, in com bination, stitch forming and work guiding mechanism including a hook needle, mechanism for moving the hook needle in the direction of feed while in the work and in the opposite direction while withdrawn from the work, and mechanism for actuating one or more of the other work engaging devices of the stitch forming and work guidinglmechanism to continue the feed while the needle isout of the work.

28. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming and work guiding mechanism including a hook needle, mechanism for moving the hook needle in the direction of feed while in the work and in the opposite direction while withdrawn from the work, and mechanism for actuating one or more of the other work engaging devicesof the stitch forming and work guiding mechanism to continue the feed while the needle is out of the work, the feeding action of each feeding device being timed to begin while some other device is still feeding.

29. A sewing machine, having, in com bination, stitch forming and work feeding mechanism for sewing a seamof concatenated stitches including intermittently acting devices some one of which is in active engagement with the work throughout the sewing, and mechanism for moving the devices in the direction of feed while in active enga ement with the work and in the opposite irection while out of active engagement therewith.

LAURENCE E. TOPHAM. 

